Helichrysum plant named ‘Weshechrsisti’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helichrysum  plant named ‘Weshechrsisti’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; flexible branches; silvery green-colored leaves; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helichrysum petiolare.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WESHECHRSISTI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helichrysum plant, botanically known as Helichrysum petiolare and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Weshechrsisti’.

The new Helichrysum plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Helichrysum petiolare ‘Ung Heli 04’, not patented. The new Helichrysum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant of ‘Ung Heli 04’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Worms, Germany in June, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helichrysum plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Worms, Germany since August, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Helichrysum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helichrysum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Weshechrsisti’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Weshechrsisti’ as a new and distinct Helichrysum plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Flexible lateral branches.     -   4. Silvery green-colored leaves.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helichrysum differ primarily from plants of the parent, ‘Ung Heli 04’, in leaf size and color as plants of the new Helichrysum have larger and more silvery-colored leaves than plants of ‘Ung Heli 04’.

Plants of the new Helichrysum can also be compared to plants of the Helichrysum ‘Nanum Silver’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Worms, Germany, plants of the new Helichrysum differed primarily from plants of ‘Nanum Silver’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helichrysum were more freely branching and         denser than and not as outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Nanum         Silver’.     -   2. Lateral branches of plants of the new Helichrysum were more         flexible than lateral branches of plants of ‘Nanum Silver’.     -   3. Plants of the new Helichrysum had smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Nanum Silver’.     -   4. Leaf apices of plants of the new Helichrysum were acute         whereas leaf apices of plants of ‘Nanum Silver’ were obtuse.     -   5. Leaves of plants of the new Helichrysum were sessile whereas         leaves of plants of ‘Nanum Silver’ were petioled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Helichrysum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helichrysum plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Weshechrsisti’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers a glass-covered greenhouse in Südlohn-Oeding, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helichrysum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 50,000 lux. Plants were pinched twice and were five months old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helichrysum petiolare ‘Weshechrsisti’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Helichrysum     petiolare ‘Ung Heli 04’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Thin to medium in thickness, fibrous;             cream in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density to dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;             vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with at least             15 lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 70 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Strength:             Strong; flexible. Aspect: About 45° to 90° from vertical.             Texture: Tomentose. Color: Close to 157B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 5 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Tomentose.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 190A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 190D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 189C; venation,             close to 189C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 190B; venation, close to 190B. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence initiation and development     have not been observed on plants of the new Helichrysum. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Helichrysum not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Helichrysum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helichrysum have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −2° C. to about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helichrysum plant named ‘Weshechrsisti’ as illustrated and described. 